Welcome Back Maizefarmer

[Issangeorge]

Tim it is good to see you back posting, I was worried that something serious had happened to you. I am glad it was only a stolen satellite dish and a few other things that kept you from posting. I will be looking forward to your insightful posts. To start with perhaps you could help me with something. Do you know where i could find a list of milk collection points in Thailand. And Tim it sounds to me like you have a Satellite Internet Connection that is not Thai based, could you elaborate a bit on that. Thanks. Issangeorge

[Maizefarmer]

Tim it is good to see you back posting, I was worried that something serious had happened to you. I am glad it was only a stolen satellite dish and a few other things that kept you from posting. I will be looking forward to your insightful posts. To start with perhaps you could help me with something. Do you know where i could find a list of milk collection points in Thailand. And Tim it sounds to me like you have a Satellite Internet Connection that is not Thai based, could you elaborate a bit on that. Thanks. Issangeorge

Thanx IssanGeorge - I'm fine

I've never had a landline and in in the early days I was lead to beleive that I'd also never get mobile coverage. So I purchased a Hughes Network V Sat system - very similar to the Inmarsat systems used on remote mines and oil rigs - a 2.7m assymetrical dish with with a "black box" of electronics that interfaces my computer and telephone to a satelite somewhere in the sky. I get a dedicated channel (or slot as its called) with telephone number with lots of numbers in it that doesn't belong to any country code and a broadband connection (Uplink 2Mb Downlink 6mb) that is always on. The sat in turn talks to one of about 3 or 4 earth stations somewhere in the world - most often BT's earth hub somewhere in the UK, sometimes it routes through Holland, sometimes through a station in Quatar. Oh, and you need to get a license from TOT because its effectively a duplex link straight out the country that they have no control over - and thats about all I know about it.

Milk collection points - there is a link on the net in Thai somewhere with all the co-op collection points - I'll have to go a hunting because its years since I changed co-ops. Is there an area/province in particular that you are interested in, or do you want the whole country?

[Pink Mist]

welcome back mate

[khunandy]

Welcome back indeed, you have been sorely missed. Hope 2008 is a good year for you Tim

[percy2]

Yes, welcome back.

Hope you had a good giggle reading this thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...148857&st=0

Cheers

[Beardog]

Welcome back Tim,

I am glad also that it was an internet connection & not health related!

Nice to have you back in the forum!!!!!

[Maizefarmer]

Yes, welcome back.

Hope you had a good giggle reading this thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...148857&st=0

Cheers

It was brought to my attention 2 days ago - nope, I had no idea. It raises all sort of issues related to privacy. In all fariness I only have myself to blame for raising my profile to the level I did.

There was some inaccuracy in some of the postings on that thread. I don't feel inclined to discuss them publicly, this is a farming forum, so if anyone has a question to ask me, or if you are concerned about the accuracy of anything you posted on that thread, by all means send me a message and I will respond - and thats how the matter will be taken further (privately).

There are good reasons why forums have rules relating to the privacy of members. Public forums are just that - public, and I no more desire to have my privacy intruded upon publicly than any other member would want (a few members on the forum know of the bad experiance I had with an ex-pat who stayed here one weekend). We all enjoy that right of association and who we choose from public forums to associate with on a personal basis.

But for the record, there are members of the Thaivisa forum, who have met me in Thailand, being in my home in Thailand, and whose homes I have being in. And there are members I have met and socialised with in the USA (as Old Wanderer said - and, yes - I consider him a personal friend not just an aquantince), and elswhere in the wolrd.

Overall it was a good natured thread and I have no bone to pick with anyone about it or the contents in it. In fact I was a little flattered and embarressed that someone had put so much time and effort into seeking me out. I belive it was good intentioned and motivated.

The reason I went off-line was because a number of practical and personal issues all came to a head last year. I lost interest and my energies and time were focused elswhere. If anyone wants to take up any issue in the thread with me - drop me a personal message and I will respond.

Otherwise I'm fine, all is well and good to see many of the old names are still contributing to what in my opinion is the section of Thaivisa that represents the boldest, most resourceful and genuine bunch of ex-pats on the forum: those who farm

Now back to farming ..........

[Issangeorge]

Tim, I live in the south east corner of Kalasin, just where Kalasin meets Mukdahan and Roi-t provinces. As I mentioned to you before I am interested in doing a little dairy farming, but to the best of my knowledge there are no milk collection points in my area. I have done a Google search, but have not been able to come up with any information. Thanks, George. PS that post looking for you I think I started it, and I can assure you I did not want to invade your privacy, I was just worried that something had happened to you, since you posted so often, I just felt it strange and felt that even if you wanted a break, you would have posted as such. The stolen satellite dish explained everything. Oh and the person who went looking for you, again I am sure he had good intentions and nothing else, and people who called him a stalker I think were way over the top. I imagine that he and his wife wanted to go on a little trip and thought it might be fun to combine it with trying to find you and seeing if you were okay. I know there are many posters on here who are not only very happy you are okay, but are also very happy you are back posting. I have seen many posts where your knowledge would have been very helpful. And Tim I hope 2008 is a better year for you than 2007.

[bannork]

Welcome back Maizefarmer, what with the heavy rain in the Bandung area yesterday helping our sugarcane, this has to be the best farming news in 2008!

Good to see you back.

bannork

[Maizefarmer]

Tim, I live in the south east corner of Kalasin, just where Kalasin meets Mukdahan and Roi-t provinces. As I mentioned to you before I am interested in doing a little dairy farming, but to the best of my knowledge there are no milk collection points in my area. I have done a Google search, but have not been able to come up with any information. Thanks, George. PS that post looking for you I think I started it, and I can assure you I did not want to invade your privacy, I was just worried that something had happened to you, since you posted so often, I just felt it strange and felt that even if you wanted a break, you would have posted as such. The stolen satellite dish explained everything. Oh and the person who went looking for you, again I am sure he had good intentions and nothing else, and people who called him a stalker I think were way over the top. I imagine that he and his wife wanted to go on a little trip and thought it might be fun to combine it with trying to find you and seeing if you were okay. I know there are many posters on here who are not only very happy you are okay, but are also very happy you are back posting. I have seen many posts where your knowledge would have been very helpful. And Tim I hope 2008 is a better year for you than 2007.

Mykdahan/Roi-et - not much dairy farming in the area. Kalasin has very milk collection points. Its going to be in Roi-et. I'll check it out and let you know.

[Maizefarmer]

Welcome back Maizefarmer, what with the heavy rain in the Bandung area yesterday helping our sugarcane, this has to be the best farming news in 2008!

Good to see you back.

bannork

Yes - indeed, large area crops and livestock prices are doing well.

How long will it go on? Good question.

There is a very intersting thread on this forum on transitions in Thai farming or something along those lines. Its my opinion that the Thai farming industry will see changes to it over the next 5 - 10 years that are unlike anything its seen for many years.

Gate prices have for long lurked as a subject on the edge of political issues which polititians have being able to juggle around - usualy being more relivant at election times. I think that is going to change. And something else - I think we are heading for another devaluation of the Baht.

[seykota]

Welcome back and thank you in advance for your future posts. I am still a novice as a farmer and I appreciate being able to read the posts here as a balance to all the "advice" (well intentioned) I receive on the farm.

[dsys]

@MF

" Hughes Network V Sat system " Very interesting setup - looked at the immersat offerings but they were very costly to run. How did you go about getting the license? Could you give me a rogh idea on monthly costs for your setup. Day trading on tot ipstar is too risky, but if I could get this setup I could get back contol of some of my trades.

thanks

oh and welcome back.

[pumpuiman]

Welcome back!!

It's like you've risen from the dead.....unfortunately I believed all the hype and speculation, my wife and I were worried....no kidding.

I feel like the over protective parent..I hear myself scolding you..."What, you couldn't call? ..."You know how we worry"....."Your grounded for a month mister!!"

Great to have you back...you have been sorely missed.

Eric and Pan

[Maizefarmer]

@MF

" Hughes Network V Sat system " Very interesting setup - looked at the immersat offerings but they were very costly to run. How did you go about getting the license? Could you give me a rogh idea on monthly costs for your setup. Day trading on tot ipstar is too risky, but if I could get this setup I could get back contol of some of my trades.

thanks

oh and welcome back.

I've got a fair amoutn enquiries about this - so I am going to post up a single thread with all th details sometime over the next few days.

[Maizefarmer]

Welcome back!!

It's like you've risen from the dead.....unfortunately I believed all the hype and speculation, my wife and I were worried....no kidding.

I feel like the over protective parent..I hear myself scolding you..."What, you couldn't call? ..."You know how we worry"....."Your grounded for a month mister!!"

Great to have you back...you have been sorely missed.

Eric and Pan

Thanx Eric, or should I say "Mom & Dad" - good to see youre still around as well.